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On Her Breath

Kabolobari Benakole9 August 2012
My wife’s breathing and mine Never come at the same time, Thankfully, they’re out of sync.
You could wish that they do - It would make a fine statement For our common chemistry.
They don’t; and that is perfect. How otherwise could I smell The breath from her nostrils?
It is rather on purpose - The algorithm of J’ah Where in takes the out puffs.
And thank God for a snout, The fantastic in the grotesque; She may lie her back to me,
Still I’m enabled to say, ah, I love the smell of your breath! That she agrees is beyond telling.
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Responses06 responses
Noel Ihebuzor8 Aug 2012

sensuous, yet mocking and slightly irreverent! the poem grips you till the end by what it hints at but leaves unsaid!

Patrick Imoh9 Aug 2012

Wow... Nice one bro...

Kabolobari9 Aug 2012

Ah, Noel, I do appreciate your honest thoughts about this husband! I see you think he's irreverent (that he so sounds or is made to seem). This irreverence we shall wonder if it is called for, right, when we determine that it exists, not so? I would wish to see that this man really has a snout for a nose to say he has one. If he does, when we do see him, we'll pardon that he made such a jarring addition to a sensuous morning song.

Olumide9 Aug 2012

Appreciation couched in diversity...tongue in cheek though! Hmmm!

Noel Ihebuzor9 Aug 2012

The blend of sensuous and the use of words that suggest a more "earthiness" - snout, puff, nostrils, grotesque is one feature that makes this poem unique. Should descriptions of the loved one be bathed in such earthy realism? The message could indeed be that love accepts imperfections - a bit in the tradition of the key theme of 1 Cor 13 1-13, but another reading is the use that the use of bathos smirks of irreverence (eg - why thank God the breathing is out of sync? why hint at the smell of her nostril - "scent" would have been more romantic/idealistic) and of a lover making jest of the person he loves. However we read this poem, it is a good work of art, and the proof is the multiplicity of readings it lends itself to. well done, Kabolari!

Kabolobari9 Aug 2012

Wow, what an honest and educated review, Noel!

I'm sure this husband (if his wife's breath really so enchanted him, as he may want us to believe in a rather good-natured style of speech) may not have chosen his words very correctly, or intelligently!

But, perhaps these are just the words that naturally and readily come to him this morning as he wakes up to sing a praise to God (why think him irreverent) for the smell (nothing scented about it, but sweet in its most earthy and natural nature) coming from his wife's nostrils.

And, isn't he rather aware of the behind-the-scenes of computer to have spoken of the out-of-sync nature of the breaths as an algorithm, calling it divine?

So, perhaps, he's intelligent in some ways, but not with words?

Still, do you really think him irreverent? And, ah, do I see that he's only jesting at his wife's breath? Let me see again!

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